Page 16 - poultry farming

Reproduction in Chicken

Birds reproduce by laying eggs. If the hen was mount-

ed by a cock, the egg will be fertilized and will hatch

into a chick. If not, the egg cannot hatch.

The eggs are fertilized internally.

A hen lays fertilized eggs which are incubated for 21
days to hatch into chicks

Conditions necessary for an egg to hatch

1. Air (oxygen)

2. Warmth

3. Moisture

Candling. This is the visual examination of egg by holding it in

between the eye and source of light to test internal quality and

freshness of egg. A fertilized egg does not allow light

to pass through it.

Abnormalities in eggs

 Double yolked egg.

 Shell less

 Wind eggs (no yolk)

 Blood spots in the egg

 Incomplete pigmentation

 Bumpy egg

 Very small egg

 Soft egg shell